The team also announced that General Manager Rod Graves, whose contract had expired, signed a four-year deal.

Whisenhunt now is among the NFL's higher-paid head coaches, according to sources. The Cardinals did not announce financial terms of the two contracts, but Whisenhunt's deal will pay him an average of between $5.5 million and $6 million per year, according to an NFL source.

"I'm very honored that I would even be considered for this," Whisenhunt said.

Whisenhunt didn't seek the new contract, but his agent, Eric Metz, was approached this off-season by team President Michael Bidwill.

"What the team has accomplished in his three seasons as head coach is a testament to the talent and hard work of Ken and his assistant coaches," Bidwill said in a statement. "We couldn't be more excited that both Rod and Ken will continue to lead the team for the foreseeable future and build upon the foundation that they helped establish."

Under Whisenhunt, the Cardinals have gone 8-8, 9-7 and 10-6 and won the NFC West the past two years. Whisenhunt, 31-23 overall, is the first coach in team history with a .500 record or better in each of his first three seasons.

In the 2008 season, the Cardinals advanced to the Super Bowl, which they lost in the final seconds to the Steelers.

The Cardinals have also gone 4-2 in the playoffs under Whisenhunt after winning one playoff game since 1947.

It wasn't a given, however, that Whisenhunt would receive a new contract this off-season. He was believed to be making between $2.5 million and $3.5 million under his old contract, but receiving a pay increase wasn't the only issue in negotiations over a new deal.

Whisenhunt long has desired an indoor practice field at the team's Tempe facility, and he wanted some changes in the way the Cardinals conduct football business, such as final say over the roster.

Bidwill apparently agreed to most of Whisenhunt's requests, although construction of the indoor facility isn't likely to begin until the economy improves and the NFL settles its labor dispute.

Whisenhunt declined comment on those issues and gave credit to owner Bill Bidwill and Michael Bidwill for giving him a new contract.

"It speaks volumes to what we're trying to get done," Whisenhunt said. "In the three years Rod and I have worked together, we've come a long way as far as building a team.

"We're a point now where it's about our system, how we draft, how we evaluate players, and we have a great coaching staff in here."

Whisenhunt, who turns 48 on Sunday, came to Arizona after spending six years with the Steelers, the last three as offensive coordinator. He said he was grateful for the Cardinals job because "it's not always easy to give a chance to a young guy who has never had a head-coaching job before."

Graves' previous contract started in 2007, the day the club fired coach Dennis Green after three seasons. Graves is entering his 14th season with the organization, starting in 1997 as assistant to the president. Graves began running the team's football operations in 2003.

The announcement Thursday "also shows the commitment Michael Bidwill has to making sure we stay a playoff contender," Graves said.

When asked if it was gratifying to see the franchise reach the point, Graves smiled and said, "it sure beats the alternative."

The new contracts come at a key time for the Cardinals, who are expected to mail season-ticket renewals soon. Whisenhunt is immensely popular among fans, and his new contract might motivate some to buy seats for 2010.

"Expectations are high now," Whisenhunt said. "People were upset this year that we didn't go back to the Super Bowl, and obviously that's the way it should be."